What is a dielectric fitting on a water heater?
A dielectric union is a plumbing fitting that is meant to join two dissimilar metal pipes so they don’t experience a galvanic reaction and begin to rust.
Do water heaters need dielectric fittings?
Dielectric Unions
It keeps the pipes from actually touching each other because, when they do, they create a corrosive electric charge that deteriorates the pipes and causes leaks. Both the hot and cold water pipes must have this fitting — it’s a code requirement.
What is a dielectric water connection?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: It's a coupling that acts as an electrical barrier between the two metals. One side is made of copper. The other steel. Between the two sides. There is a non-conducting washer.
Do water heaters come with dielectric unions?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Which you usually found at the fittings of water heaters and without a dielectric Union an electrolytic reaction begins which leads to something called galvanic corrosion.
What is the purpose of a dielectric fitting?
A dielectric fitting is a type of industrial material that isolates monitoring instruments against the effects of electrical current. One of its main purposes is to connect two types of pipe, such as iron and copper. It holds the pipes together, averting leakage and other types of damage.
How do you install a dielectric union on a water heater?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You can see it there. I'm gonna go we're gonna go ahead and change these out today I'll show you how to do that these are 5-inch unions. So I went ahead and ordered two of them I'm just going to
Do water heaters come with dielectric nipples?
Most water heaters come with these factory installed.
Do I need dielectric union?
If all of your water piping and connections from the copper to other fixtures or devices are copper or brass (or plastic) you’re fine without adding dielectric unions. Use a dielectric fitting between copper an steel as described in this article, both to comply with plumbing codes and to avoid corrosion and leaks.
How do you prevent galvanic corrosion on a water heater?
To protect heating elements from galvanic corrosion, have galvanized unions with plastic nipples installed at the top of the water tank. Anode rods. Anode rods prevent corrosion in your water heater by sacrificing their metal in place of the heater’s metal.
How do you connect dielectric union?
First step: Wrap several layers of pipe sealing tape over the threads of the steel pipe. Install the threaded end of dielectric union body to the steel pipe. Turn the union clockwise and tighten with a pipe wrench. Second step: Slide the union nut over the end of copper pipe with open threaded end facing out.
Can you use a brass fitting instead of a dielectric union?
What is Brass Fitting? Brass fittings and nipples are also commonly used as a great alternative to dielectric unions for water distribution systems.
Does Stainless to copper need dielectric?
When connecting copper to carbon steel or galvanized steel, flanges or dielectric unions should be used to electrically insulate each material. When connecting copper to stainless steel, a brass or bronze fitting between the two metals provides sufficient electrical separation in most environments.
Can you put copper and stainless steel together?
While stainless steel is a common plumbing material for water mains and fittings because it has an exceptionally long lifespan and is resistant to corrosion, it’s not a good idea to directly connect stainless steel to copper. This is because stainless steel and copper are actually dissimilar metals.
Where is dielectric Union installed?
Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Put it in on the right side usually there's an indication here to tell you the which way the flow goes.
What metals should not be used with stainless steel?
*Note: the closer the two metals on this list, the less likely they will be to suffer from the negative effects of galvanic corrosion.
- Magnesium.
- Magnesium Alloys.
- Zinc.
- Beryllium.
- Aluminum Alloys.
- Cadmium.
- Mild and Carbon Steel, Cast Iron.
- Chromium Steel (With Less Than Or Equal To 6% Chromium)
Can I use galvanized bolts with stainless steel?
Under atmospheric conditions of moderate to mild humidity, contact between a galvanized surface and a stainless steel surface is unlikely to cause substantial corrosion. However, if the surfaces are in the presence of salt water or salt water air, it would be best to electrically isolate the two metals.
Can stainless steel touch aluminum?
While it is relatively safe to use stainless steel fasteners on large aluminum surfaces, the opposite is not true. If you use aluminum rivets or other fasteners to join large steel pieces, corrosion will set in and destroy the fasteners, ultimately causing the parts to come loose.
